Disposable nasal band filter

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a disposable nasal band filter (20) to be applied to a user&#39;s nose having a filter element (22) which seals around and surrounds the nostrils and two sheer adhesive strips (24a,24b) which overlap the filter element and adhere to a user&#39;s nose. The filter element includes an elastic strand (28) which is stitched around the outer edge (23a,23d) of the filter element so that the filter element will grasp, seal around and snuggle a user&#39;s nose when the band is applied.

This application is a continuation in part of prior U.S. applicationSer. No. 08/231,156, filed Apr. 22, 1994, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individuals who are outside or exposed to various work environments canencounter a variety of air borne irritants. For example, walkers andjoggers can be exposed to pollution, pollen, exhaust, insects, dust,smoke, bacteria, viruses, etc. There are also numerous other examples ofindividuals who are exposed to air irritants such as people who work inthe sanitization industry, insect infested environments, dusty or sandyenvironments, painters, a chemical industry, construction workers, bikeriders, skiers, fertilizing, crop dusting, exterminating and the listgoes on. Animals and birds suffer as well from air borne irritants suchas sand and dust including the other irritants and problems mentionedabove which can lead to ailments such as lung disease. Moreover,negative effects are enhanced on individuals, animals and birds withrespiratory conditions such as allergies and lung problems.

A variety of breathing filter devices have been available in the past,however, these devices have a variety of shortcomings, including deviceswhich are too expensive to dispose of after one use or are not readilywashable once they are covered with an irritant such as pollen, dust,mucus, devices which inhibit breathing, devices which are costprohibitive, those which may not be sturdy specially in a moistenvironment, devices which are cumbersome to wear, the device may beunsightly to wear, etc.

The need therefore exists for a disposable breathing filter which iseasy to apply, comfortable to wear, easy to remove, manufactured withinexpensive materials by an inexpensive process, disposable, washable,durable (especially for moist environments), lightweight, breathable,and yet warm.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a disposal nasal band filter designed to meet theneeds mentioned above. The filter can be worn by individuals andanimals.

The invention is to be applied to a user's nose and includes a filterelement which seals around and surrounds the nostrils and two sheeradhesive strips which overlap the filter element and adhere to theuser's nose. The filter element includes an elastic strand which isstitched around the outer edge of the filter element so that the filterelement will grasp, seal around and snuggle the user's nose when theband is applied. Prescriptive or non-prescriptive medication can beadded to the filter element allowing the filter to function as aDelivery System to the respiratory system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view of an individual wearing adisposable nasal band filter.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the disposable nasal band filter.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the disposable nasal band filter shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3A shows a side elevational view of another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the disposable nasal filter band shown onFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the disposable nasal filter shown in FIG.2 with the protective backing removed.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an individual 10 is shown wearing a DISPOSABLENASAL BAND FILTER 20 over the nose 12. The DISPOSABLE NASALBAND FILTER20 fits over the nostrils (not shown), adheres to the sides 14 and 16 ofthe nose 12, and snuggles above the apex 18 of the nose 12. When thedisposable nasal band is in use, the individual is preferablyclose-mouthed 19 and is breathing only through the nose 12. Theelasticity of the nasal band 20 enables it to snuggle the nose and tobulge or become bulbous to allow breathing space surrounding thenostrils (see also FIG. 3A).

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, the disposable nasal band 20 includes acentral filter element or portion 22 which is preferably made of athermal fleece or a thermal undergarment material. The thermalundergarment material is made from a well known waffle-woven knit havingupraised columns 30 with adjacent depressions 32 of greater prominencethan a series of perpendicular upraised rows 34 with shared depressions32. A sheer adhesive material 24a and 24b is attached or adhered to eachopposite end of the filter portion 22 by overlapping the filter portion22 with ends 25a and 25b respectively of the sheer material portions 24aand 24b.

The sheer adhesive material 24a and 24b is preferably similar to atissue paper having an adhesive coating layer on one side so that itwill be light weight, non-irritable, breathable through the skin, easyto remove, and non-abrasive for individuals who have sensitive skin orare sensitive to adhesives. The sheer adhesive material 24a and 24b willhave backing 26a and 26b, respectively, to inhibit exposure of theadhesive side of the sheer adhesive material 24a and 24b prior to use orbetween uses of the disposable nasal band 20. The backing 26a and 26bmay comprise a band-aide covering, paper type, light-weight cardboard,or plastic type material.

The DISPOSABLE NASAL BAND FILTER 20, includes an elastic stitch 28running through the filter portion 22 around the outer edges 23a(upper), 23b (right), 23c (lower) and 23d (left) or periphery of thefilter portion 22 such as by stitching the elastic 28 around the outeredges 23a-d of the filter portion 22. This causes a gathering effect orgathered portion 36 around the outer edges 23a-d (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 5,6 and 7), causes the filter portion 22 to bulge or a bulging portion 38(see FIG. 1 and FIG. 3A) and gives the filter portion 22 elasticity.With the combination of the thermal undergarment filter portion 22 andthe elastic strand 28, the DISPOSABLE NASALBAND FILTER 20 will seal orprevent open air gaps around the edges, snuggle up to the nose 12 of theuser, conform to the nose 12 of the user, bulge to create a gap betweenthe nostrils and the filter portion 22 with the bulge 38 remainingintact during inhaling through the nostrils allowing the user tocompletely inhale without blockage of the nostrils, allow the filter toremain in place during movement of the upper lip 19, nose 12, etc., andallow for the DISPOSABLE NASAL BAND FILTER 20 to be lifted if theindividual needs to sneeze when the DISPOSABLE NASAL BAND FILTER 20 iscovering the nose 12 of the individual. The elastic strand 28 could alsobe employed to gather only the upper and lower outer edges 23a and 23cwhich still would create a bulge 38.

Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment of a DISPOSABLE NASAL BANDFILTER 20 is shown having a central filter portion 122 with sheeradhesive portion 124a and 124b attached to opposite ends of the filterportion 122. The DISPOSABLE NASAL BAND FILTER 120 shown in FIG. 6 iswider than the DISPOSABLE NASAL BAND FILTER shown in FIG. 2-5 toaccommodate a potential user having a nose which requires a greaterwidth or who prefers a larger filter portion for reasons such asincreased warmth/insulation from the environment. Otherwise, theDISPOSABLE NASALBAND FILTER 120 shown in FIG. 6 is the same as theembodiment 20 shown in FIG. 2-5.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of a DISPOSABLE NASALBAND FILTER 220 is shown. In this embodiment the filter portion 222 haselastic bands 224a and 224b attached respectively to opposite ends ofthe filter portion 222. The elastic bands 224a and 224b are for loopingaround the ears 15 of the user 10 to hold the DISPOSABLE NASAL BANDFILTER 20 in place and over the nose of the user 10. A strand of elastic228 is stitched across the lower edge of the filter portion 222 and ifdesired the elastic can be stitched along the edge of the ends where theelastic bands 224a and 224b are attached to the filter portion 222. Inthis embodiment 220 the elastic strand 228 is included for the samefunctional reasons as described above in the embodiment shown on FIG. 2through FIG. 5. The upper end of the filter portion 222 is folded overand around a metal strip 226 and stitched back to the filter portion 222to form a packet to hold the metal strip 226 in the filter portion 222.The metal strip 226 is preferably made of pliable type metal and may bea round, flat, and/or rectangular strip, etc. Since the strip is pliableit may be bent to conform to the shape across the bridge and sides 14and 16 of the users nose 12.

A gauze or other suitable type material with or without the elasticstrand 28 can be used in place of the thermal undergarment material inthe filter portions 22, 122, 222. However, the thermal undergarmentmaterial is presently preferred since gauze is not breathable when it iswet, gauze is harder to breathe through, gauze is not as comfortable,gauze has a tendency to fray, and when inhaled it gets wet and fallsapart which inhibits breathing. Comparatively, the thermal fleecematerial is more durable, breathable, warm, washable, and reusable. Onetype of sheer adhesive material 24a and 24b which can be used is "PaperAdhesive Tape" and another is "first aid tape" available from Johnson &Johnson, 3M and other companies which have the added advantage of beinghypo-allergenic. Other suitable tape materials may be used. The thermalundergarment material may be 100% cotton or a blend and is availablefrom several sources including UltraTech Fabrics, Inc. of New York,N.Y., style no. DX-#16150.

A cellulose acetate type or other suitable filter can be made as a pador insert (not shown) to be placed within the filter as a liner and heldby the disposable nasal band filter against the nose with or without theelastic strand. A cellulose acetate type or other suitable filtermaterial can be a molded semi rigid material having a bulging portion 38as shown in FIG. 3A but without the gathered portion 36. This molded,more rigid filter could be used as and would appear similar as thefilter element 22 in FIG. 3A in place of the thermal undergarmentmaterial.

The filter can function as a Delivery System to enhance breathing or toinhibit allergies, etc. by applying prescriptive or non-prescriptivemedicinal mists, sprays, drops, powders, etc. to the filter or to thepad (not shown) inserted in the filter. The filter is then placed overthe nose. Subsequently, the prescriptive or non-prescriptive medicine isintroduced to the respiratory system on inhaling through the nozzles oneach successive inhale until the medication is exhausted.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described.Various departures from the embodiments shown and described can be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nasal band filter for wearing on a user's noseand surrounding a user's nostrils, comprising:a filter elementcomprising a swatch of thermal undergarment material having an upper, alower, a right and a left outer edge for surrounding a user's nostrils;two sheer material pieces having an adhesive coating on one side,wherein each of said sheer material pieces is attached to an oppositeend of said filter element; at least one backing strip covering saidsheer material pieces to protect the adhesive coating prior toapplication of the nasal band filter; and an elastic strand stitchedaround the upper and the lower outer edges of said filter element suchthat said filter element includes a gathered portion around the upper,the lower, the right and the left outer edges and a bulging portionwhereby said filter element will snuggle a user's nose and define a gapbetween said filter element and a user's nostrils.
 2. The nasal bandfilter according to claim 1 further including a pliable metal strip setagainst the upper outer edge of said filter element.
 3. The nasal bandfilter according to claim 1 wherein the elastic strand is furtherincluded in the right and the left outer edges of said filter elementsuch that the elastic strand is stitched around a periphery of saidfilter element.
 4. The nasal band filter according to claim 1 furtherincluding a pad filter placed within said filter element as a liner. 5.A nasal band filter for wearing on a user's nose and surrounding auser's nostrils, comprising:a filter element comprising a swatch ofthermal undergarment material having an upper, a lower, a right and aleft outer edge for surrounding a user's nostrils; two elastic bandsattached to said filter element on the right and the left outer edge ofsaid filter element; a pliable metal strip set against the upper outeredge of said filter element; and an elastic strand stitched around thelower outer edge of said filter element such that said filter elementincludes a gathered portion around the lower, outer edge and a bulgingportion whereby said filter element will snuggle a user's nose anddefine a gap between said filter element and a user's nostrils.